Your Right to Know

NEWARK, Ohio — Four Republicans will face off in the May 6 primary for Licking County’s board of
commissioners.

Among them is former Commissioner Brad Feightner, who was elected to the board in 2008, but lost
last year in the primary to current Commissioner Duane Flowers.

Feightner, 54, entered the race for Licking County Municipal Court clerk as an independent last
year, but withdrew last summer after the county GOP challenged his petition.

Opposing Feightner in the primary will be Doug Kanuckel, 71, a Falls Township trustee and
retired Licking County deputy.

Mike Fox, an embattled Pataskala city councilman, is also running. Fox, 56, was accused of
malfeasance by former Mayor Steve Butcher for his role in the removal of former West Licking Fire
Chief David Fulmer. Fox was asked to recuse himself from those discussions.

Pataskala’s council voted 4-1 last month to end the investigation with a public reprimand.

Also running for the Republican nomination is Rick Black, 59, a Union Township trustee and
former Lakewood school board member.

The primary winner will face Democrat Mark VanBuren, a Harrison Township trustee and former
county commissioner, and Libertarian Jim Snedden.

The seat is held by Doug Smith, who is retiring at the end of the year.